THE birds and the bees were up for discussion when Limerick City and County Council was asked for its definition of an adult shop.
The question was raised by Fine Gael councillor Stephen Keary during a discussion on the Vacant Business Premises Rates Incentive Scheme at this week’s Economic Development Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) meeting.
During a presentation from the Council’s head of Trade and Investment, Brendan Troy, councillors learned of the scheme’s aim to encourage reoccupation of vacant retail/commercial properties and combat vacancy in the core retail area of Limerick City and some county towns.
Questions were raised by councillors about the scheme, particularly around the exclusion of certain types of business to “discourage” such industry on our high streets.
The meeting heard that head shops, vape shops, bookmakers, discount shops, moneylenders, mobile phone shops, tattoo parlours, and adult stores are all on the blacklist for the scheme, operating until the end of the year. As are fast food outlets, arcades, private members clubs, tanning studios, fuel stations, pop-up shops, and supermarkets.
Cllr Stephen Keary was keen to know what the Council’s definition of an ‘adult shop’ is.
“I’d have to come back to you on that. I don’t know if I could define it exactly, but I suppose your sex shops or something to that effect,” Mr Troy replied.
Cllr Keary suggested that while the Council had a list of businesses that were excluded from applying for the incentive scheme, those eligible were not outlined. He was informed that retail outlets not on the excluded list were all eligible to apply, subject to agreement with the Council.
“We would assess an application individually as long as it’s a retail use,” Mr Troy explained.
“You could define a drapery shop as an adult shop,” Cllr Keary suggested.
“I suppose you could,” Mr Troy accepted.
Cllr Keary then took the view that the Council needs to get its definitions right.
Independent councillor Maria Donoghue asked if tattoo parlours might be removed from the list of excluded businesses. Mr Troy accepted that they can be “worthy establishments” and explained that the Council has some discretion around what it includes in the scheme.
More information on the scheme is available on limerick.ie.
– Local Democracy Reporting Scheme